bugle

¹

[ byoo-guhl ]

noun

1. a brass wind instrument resembling a cornet and sometimes having keys or valves, used typically for sounding military signals.

verb (used without object)

, bu·gled, bu·gling.

1. to sound a bugle.
2. (of bull elks) to utter a rutting call.

verb (used with object)

, bu·gled, bu·gling.

1. to call by or with a bugle:

   to bugle reveille.

bugle

²

[ byoo-guhl ]

noun

1. ajuga.

bugle

³

[ byoo-guhl ]

noun

1. Also called bugle bead. a tubular glass bead used for ornamenting dresses.

adjective

1. Also bu·gled. ornamented with bugles.

bugle

¹

/ ˈbjuːɡəl /

noun

1. any of several Eurasian plants of the genus Ajuga , esp A. reptans , having small blue or white flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates) Also calledbugleweed See also ground pine

bugle

²

/ ˈbjuːɡəl /

noun

1. a tubular glass or plastic bead sewn onto clothes for decoration

bugle

³

/ ˈbjuːɡəl /

noun

1. music a brass instrument similar to the cornet but usually without valves: used for military fanfares, signal calls, etc

verb

1. intr to play or sound (on) a bugle

Derived Forms

• ˈbugler, noun

Other Words From

• bugler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bugle¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bugle, bugel, bewgal “wild ox, buffalo, water buffalo, drinking horn, (instrument) horn, bugle,” from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin būculus “young bull, bullock, young ox,” equivalent to bū- variant stem of bōs “cow, ox, bull” + -culus diminutive noun suffix; -cle ¹, cow ¹

Origin of bugle²

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English bugle, bugil, buygel, bewgle, from Old French, from Late Latin būgillo the name of the plant; further origin uncertain

Origin of bugle³

First recorded in 1570–80; of obscure origin; perhaps an extended sense of bugle ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of bugle¹

C13: from Late Latin bugula , of uncertain origin

Origin of bugle²

C16: of unknown origin

Origin of bugle³

C14: short for bugle horn ox horn (musical instrument), from Old French bugle , from Latin būculus young bullock, from bōs ox

Example Sentences

During one futile counterattack, “the French infantry made a gallant show, advancing across the Belgian beet fields with colors unfurled and bugles sounding the shrill notes of the ‘charge.’

From Literature

This is the position soldiers assume every day on an army post as the flag is lowered and the bugle call “Retreat” is played.

From Salon

Each week, we listened to marching bands play the national anthem but heard the bugle call of “Taps.”

From Seattle Times

Still, it’s hardly an overstatement to suggest that feat — not to mention Leiweke’s zero-carbon bugle call challenging other sports power brokers to match it — barely registers among fans.

From Seattle Times

The iconic rose, emblematic open-heart embroidery, and the magnetic close by Naomi Campbell in a sculpted silver bugle bead dress, all converged in a collection that was both homage and evolution.

From Seattle Times